La Bella Figura Turns One And Interviews Themselves!

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The Amalfi Coast

 Who are you?

La Bella Figura, a little natural and organic skincare brand that wants to bring "The Beautiful Life" to beauty lovers everywhere!

Where do you live?

We are based in Chicago, although our hearts are always someplace else. Mostly in Paris, Barcelona, or somewhere on the Amalfi coast.

What is your occupation?

We formulate, create and hand blend natural skincare products from certified organic or wild crafted ingredients. We bring beauty to the world and safe cosmetics to folks that trust us.

What is your astrological sign?


We are a power combo. A Leo and An Aquarian!

What do you do for fun and recreation?

We travel, write, cook, dance, meet our friends and laugh well into the night.

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be and why?

There is so much that we still need to see. There is not a place on this earth that we wouldn't see! We travel because it reminds us of Huckleberry Finn, being a seven year old, diving into our imaginations, and it connects us with our humanity.

What do you enjoy most about your life?

We enjoy loving the people closest to us every day. We hold them tight and just love! Right now we are also enjoying some of the success from our hard work and being recognized by retailers, customers, editors, and beauty writers as responsible and truthful. When we receive a phone call or an email from a customer that tells us our products has changed their skin, well it makes us cheer with joy. We love to hear it. We also love being innovative with ingredients and educating people about chemical free beauty. How some women covet the latest Stella McCartney dress or Rag and Bone jeans we covet the latest fruit or vegetable oil making news in the science journals. Don't get us started about organic essential oils because we have been amazed by the variety in the plant world and wish to try them all!

What made you try organic products?

We were tired of the greenwashing, the chemicals, toxins and lies that are constant in the beauty world. Growing up, all we ever heard was that oil for your skin is the worst culprit and leading cause of acne and irritating skin issues. Meanwhile, the beautiful women of Morocco, Italy, France, and Spain have always used a variety of oils in their skincare routine with astonishing results! The old myth that oils are hazardous and are to be avoided is absurd since no cream or moisturizer can be made without oil. It's an emulsion of water and oil! We just didn't want mineral oil to be our moisturizer so we looked towards nature and like the beauty queen she is, we found our answers. There is no going back once you go clean and organic.

If we "shadowed" you for an entire day, what beauty horror would we find out about you?

Yikes! We are both guilty of being so busy running La Bella Figura that we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves. We're getting better though because we both made a recent committment to make exercise a part of our work routine daily. It's so easy to wake up and have emails, phone calls, and meetings to attend and skip a workout, but in the end we've realized we are happier when we can squeeze in some yoga or a cardio outdoors.

What are your favorite beauty products, something you could not be on a desert island without?

We are huge fans of two of our own products. Karen would go nuts if she didn't have her Decouverte Under Eye Repair Serum! Right now if I lost my bottle of Barbary Fig Renewal Serum I wouldn't be a happy camper either. It's getting my skin gorgeous for Spring.


Other than that I love my John Masters Organics Bare shampoo and I'm loving Raw Elements USA natural sunscreen made with some great ingredients that make my skin feel soft and not tacky.

What will you be doing this weekend?

It's St. Patrick's Day in Chicago this weekend and it'll be in the 70's! We'll be out and about for sure. We have a tradition here in Chicago where we turn the river green and have a parade and celebrate in a big way. Pretty sure green beer will be on the menu too. Don't ask what the city uses to turn the river green!

Sum up a motto that best describes you:

We do what we do not because it's always easy, but because we think it's right.

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Karen

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Victoria

La Bella of the week is, Mademoiselle, B!

This week we interview a nine year old organic beauty lover and huge LBF fan, Mademoiselle, B.  We aren't revealing her "real" identity, but it was definitely a real treat to interview this young sassy pants.  She claimed not to know what an astrological sign was and admitted that the questions were boring, which we found refreshing and very amusing.  Gotta get the young ones educated on going clean and green!

Mademoiselle B and friends

La Bella Figura: Who are you?

B:  I'm B and I'm nine.

LBF:  Where do you live?

B:  In the windiest city in America.

LBF:  What is your occupation?

B:  I'm a student and I like to sing and dance.

LBF:  What is your astrological sign?

B: I don't even know what that means. 

LBF:  What do you do for fun and recreation?

B:  I really like to sing and dance to hip hop.

LBF:  If you could travel anywhere, where would it be and why?

B:  I would travel to Hollywood to meet other famous people.  I would like to meet Beyonce and Selena Gomez and Justin Beiber.

LBF:  What do you enjoy most about your life?

B:  I enjoy going on adventures.  This summer I went to Indiana Dunes with my Mom, Aunt and brother and we found a trail by the huge sand dunes and followed the trail til the end.  You could see the whole lake from the end of the trail and very far off you could see downtown Chicago. 

LBF:  What made you try organic products? 

B:  What made me try organic products was I had eczema on my knee and my Mom and Aunt said it would work.


LBF:  If we shadowed you for an entire day, what beauty horror would we find out about you?

B:  I'm just a kid, so a whole bunch of things probably and I don't even know what that means.

LBF:  What are your favorite beauty products, something you could not be on a desert island without?

B:  I love my Aunt's beauty products like the argan oil and I like it when my Mom uses the hair stuff on me because it smells good and I have curly hair so it makes it nice.

LBF:  What will you be doing this weekend?

B:  I would like to go to a movie and the American Girl doll store.

LBF:  Sum up a motto that best describes you:


 ( Note: my nephew who was "advising" on this interview suggested, Tyra Banks.  Pretty sure he heard incorrectly...I hope!) 

B:  Live, have fun and laugh a lot. 


Besides the fact that she's a LBF niece and we adore her to death, we think B is going to make some pretty good beauty choices in her future.  We hope she gets to meet Justin, Selena, and Beyonce and maybe she'll teach them a thing or two with her excellent dance moves! 

To quote one spicy little girl, "Live, have fun and laugh a lot!" You, go, girl!

Meatless Mondays with La Bella Figura

Awhile back I received an email from Tasting Table that was a letter from Mario Batali  about a movement called Meatless Monday's. It was the first I'd heard about Meatless Mondays and as a vegetarian I was thrilled to see it endorsed from someone as famous and carnivorous as Batali.

I'm not one of those vegetarians that are hyper sensitive about meat, would I love it if the whole world went veggie? Of course, but as much as I really care about the plight of animals I also recognize that eating habits are a deeply personal and cultural thing. I'm overjoyed that so many people are embracing this movement. It's great that people are recognizing that you can eat satisfying veggie meals and that reducing your meat intake by one day makes a HUGE difference not only for your body but also for our planet.

I thought it would be fun to share some of our  favorite meatless recipes with you each week. Sometimes our recipes will be vegan and sometimes just plain old vegetarian.

This week is all about getting dinner on the table quick! Here at La Bella Figura we are very busy gals and sometimes dinner needs to get on the table fast.

Cannellini Hummus Pita Sandwich

 This recipe is strictly no cooking and only requires a food processor. The best part of this recipe is that you can tweak it to your hearts desire. Swap the raw garlic for 2 -3 cloves of roasted garlic, add Tabasco, or  spices such as cumin or sumac. If you have the time to grill thinly sliced eggplant that works great in here as well. The sky's the limit!

For the Hummus: 

1 garlic clove chopped

2 cups of cannellini beans soaked and cooked according to package 

   or 1 can cannellini beans drained and rinsed

1-2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice (fresh really does make all the difference)

2-3 tbsp olive oil or culinary Argan oil

1/8-1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (or more if you want the heat)

1/8 tsp paprika

1/3 cup loosely packed fresh parsley

salt to taste

For the Sandwich:

1 and 1/2 cups baby spinach leaves 

1/2 zucchini or a cucumber thinly sliced

thinly sliced red onions (as many as you like)

thinly sliced tomatoes

4 pita breads (whole wheat or white)

Add all hummus ingredients except the parsley to the food processor, process for about 2 minutes until smooth. Add the parsley and pulse to chop. Add salt and mix.

Spread hummus on inside of pita breads, top with zucchini, spinach, tomatoes and onions.

Serve with carrots, sweet potato fries, or chips.

Hope you enjoy this fast and easy recipe! Stay tuned for next week's Meatless Monday recipe.

                                                             En bonne santé,

                                                                                                 Karen 

 

*Note: To ensure this recipe is vegan, check the ingredients in your pita bread. While most pita's are made with just flour and water some companies will use egg.

Being A Green Houseguest

I recently went to Austin, Texas to visit some friends who were generous enough to host me in their beautiful home.  I was provided my own bedroom with a television, reading chaise by a window, private bathroom and to my surprise and delight, organic shampoo and conditioner, natural shower gel and a soy based scented candle!  Now, these friends know very well that I'm a natural and organic freak so I wasn't surprised, but it did remind me of the many times I've been a houseguest and had forgotten to bring my own apothecary.   What did I do?  Well, I'll tell you that in a million years I would never demand or request anyone housing me to buy natural and organic products just for me.  That would be rude and beyond demanding and I my Mama didn't raise a brat.  I can and have dealt with using whatever was on hand.  However, I just avoid the whole thing by keeping recycled 1 oz. containers full of soap, argan oil, body wash, and shampoo.  It's also very useful to keep those sample packets that you receive from cosmetic products.  Those saved my life on a trip to Belize when I was so allergic to the super perfumey soap,  (I couldn't even tolerate it being in the shower with me!).

These days (even when staying at luxury hotels or resorts, they need to get green desperately) I bring my own loot and a little extra for my hosts.  In addition to the awareness I have about the chemicals and toxins in conventional cosmetics I also suffer from allergies to many fragrances.  I'm the gal that begins to sneeze up a storm when I pass the perfume department giving dirty looks to the lady "innocently" spraying me.  Chemical fragrances really disagree with me and my skin has broken out in hives more than once while spritzing myself.  Now that I know better, I also know that I should bring my own toiletries while visiting others and staying in their homes.  It's less awkward and more eco friendly than asking for directions to the local Whole Foods to buy travel sized products. 

I have often been asked about my natural products by a curious host and have even been able to convert a few friends to clean products.  I sometimes leave the extras to those interested.  I also send a small basket of organic soaps, body wash, toothpaste and candles as a sweet thank you gift.  It's a great way to introduce the clean living philosophy without being so preachy.   

I've compiled a couple of products that you can easily buy at your local natural food and wellness store.  Perhaps the next time you are making your way to Thanksgiving at your Aunt's house in Arizona you'll remember to pack your own goodies and bring some extra for her.  She'll be likely to invite you for a long weekend again in anticipation of the gorgeous organic products you'll deliver right to her house!  AND she's your Aunt so you want her to use healthy green products that she'll love.  Right?

A colorful display of olive oil based soaps

My hostess basket favorites:

Pacifica Mediterranean Fig Soy Candle

John Masters Organic Bare Unscented Shampoo

Weleda Calendula Toothpaste

California Baby Tea Tree And Lavender Body Wash

La Bella Figura La Curacio Lip Treatment

Solay Wellness Stress Relief Bath Soak With Himalayan Salt

Post by Victoria

Beauty, wine and chocolate!

Last night Chicagoans were able to experience a real luxurious collaboration between us and Vosges Haut Chocolat. Vosges is a Chicago based exotic chocolate company that has paved the way for gourmet chocolate in America and has done one hell of a job at that! Both Karen and I are huge Vosges girls. My favorite is the Barcelona bar and Barcelona almonds, as a matter of fact I can easily polish off a box of the almonds in one sitting.

La Bella Figura offered samples of our best sellers to people that came in to the boutique to experience this unique beauty event and came across many curious folks who wanted to learn about the benefits of going natural in their beauty routine. It was very exciting for Karen and I to talk about our handcrafted brand, based in the same city where a pioneer like Vosges is from. I have followed Vosges and their CEO/creator Katrina Markoff, who is an exemplary business person and a mentor to small businesses. Katrina had vision for her creations and was not quiet when she pounded on the big doors of Neiman Marcus. Eventually, someone else with vision tried her magnificent chocolate delights and took her seriously. Since then she has made many decisions to keep her company from having that mass produced, over exposed type of vibe and continues to build her company with compassion and fire. We love that about Vosges and want to express our gratitude in allowing us to make our own roar at her Lincoln Park boutique. She has a great staff and we want to give them a shout out also for keeping a smile on their faces and the chocolate coming last night as the crowd lingered.

It was a beautiful October evening with a huge Hunter's moon bursting in through the glass windows and all I could think of was another piece of chocolate.

Victoria

Natural beauty expert Siobhan O'Connor reveiws Découverte on No More Dirty Looks.

Product Review: La Bella Figura Decouverte Eye Repair Serum [UPDATED WITH A LINK]

Posted by Siobhan on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 · 7 Comments

Every so often, we get an email about a natural beauty line that sends our special authenticity detector off the charts.

You know when you can just tell that someone a) is the real deal, and b) would be really fun to have dinner with? Well, when Karen King from Chicago emailed us about her new organic skincare line La Bella Figura, that’s what happened. We wrote her back and asked what she thought her stand-out product was, which is when she told us about her Decouverte Eye Repair Serum.
Plagued with hereditary dark undereye circles—not to mention the occasional not-enough-sleep and too-many-cocktails nights—Karen says she was on a mission to find natural ingredients that would be great for her eyes. “In our research we discovered barbary fig seed oil. I was very interested in the composition of this oil with its very high linoleic acid content and because it contains Vitamin K, which helps stop leaky capillaries, one of the main reason for dark circles. However, I was very skeptical because it is very hard to get, time consuming to produce, and therefore very costly.”

Well, after experimenting on her own mug, she found barbary fig seed oil to be so great that she made an eye serum for the rest of us.

Now, to be honest, I’ve never had much of an undereye-circle issue but I totally have smile lines around my eyes (doesn’t bother me) and in the last few months I have thought the skin under my eyes might feel thinner and as a result, a little darker (bothers me a bit). Also, there are the puffy-eye days. We all have them thanks to things like salty food, booze and tears, and they suck.
I’m happy to report that La Bella Figura eye serum noticeably reduces inflammation on puffy-eye days, hydrates the lines around my eyes, and, yes, the skin under my eyes feels somehow thicker and looks less dark. It’s true! Even if I feel bad recommending a product that costs $115.
Now, am I sleeping better than I did last month? I don’t know, I think so? But the point is, it’s hard to know what’s what—but that’s always the case with beauty products.

There are no silver bullets, lifestyle accounts for a lot, so do our genes, and so does diet, but products certainly can and do work, in their way. I’m going to say this is one of those products.

Here are the ingredients:
100% Pure Organic Argan (Argania Spinosa) Kernel Oil, Organic Opuntia Ficus Indica (Barbary Fig) Seed Oil, Organic Rosa Rubiginosa (Rosehip) Seed Oil, Wild-crafted Lycopersicion Esculentum (Tomato) Seed Oil, Wild-crafted Coffea Arabica (Coffee Bean) Oil, Wild-crafted Rosa Damascena (Rose Otto) Flower Oil, Organic Tanacetum Annuum (Blue Tansy) Flower Oil, Organic Helichrysum Italicum Oil, Organic Cymbopogon Martinii Motia (Palmarosa) Oil, Organic Lavandulia Augustifolia (Lavender) Oil.
Also, check out her charming, candid blog here.

SKINtervention 101

Chia seeds

I am 43 years old.  Just turned 43 earlier this month and I didn't blink an eye, cry into my pillow or run to the plastic surgeon's office to have myself oddly altered in any way.  Instead, I looked in the mirror and thought, "you could stand to lose a few pounds, but you're holding up well lady!"  The confidence I have gained along the way and into this new part of my life is endless.  I have lost the self consciousness that kept me from enjoying life in my youth.  There was a time when I wouldn't swim in a pool for fear or ruining my hair or causing my mascara to streak.  These days I can (soberly) fall into a certain famous celebrity's pool, have everyone laugh at my goofiness and laugh also as streaks of mascara run down my face.  Who knew I wouldn't end up taking myself so seriously at 43?  I had a lot to prove in my youth or so I thought and now...it's about enjoying the moment as it comes and laughing as often as I can.

This newfound breezy attitude doesn't mean that I'm going to sit back and let the wrinkles take over my face or body.  Oh, I'm going to fight alright, just not with scalpels and botox injections!  I prefer fruits and vegetables and the occasional sea algae.  I have learned that olive oil and avocados, roses and marshmallow root pack an antioxidant punch that can really transform my skin.  Wish I would have learned this some years ago because I believe my skin would be in even better shape, but I'm grateful now nonetheless.  I have also recently been aware how much my actions affect my skin.  I recently spent a weekend with my girlfriends in New York City and man did it show up on my face!  My skin appeared sallow, circles formed under my eyes and dry patches formed all from living it up, eating street food, staying out late and having a few too many cocktails with the ladies.  I needed a skintervention and needed it fast! 

Raw coconut cream

The first thing I did when I came back home was to exfoliate.  The dry patches were caused by dehydration from the alcohol.  Alcohol is very bad for your skin in large quantities.  (A little wine has proven to have skin protecting benefits and resveratrol found in red wine is actually beneficial in anti aging.)  I used a superseed mix of organic brown rice, chia and flax and blended it with raw coconut cream (the flesh of the coconut and oil) with a few drops of fennel oil and used this to gently exfoliate the dry patches into submission.  I prefer a gently seed exfoliator rather than walnut or apricot shells because they can "break" delicate skin and cause capillary damage.  My skin was instantly soft, dry patches gone.

Next, I needed to open my pores with a gentle facial tea steam.  I have formulated my own facial tea, but at home you can heat water in a kettle, add a few drops of essential oil for an aromatherapy effect and pour right into your bathroom sink.  Carefully, put your face over the sink with a damp washcloth over your head and allow the steam to open your pores.  You only need to do this a few minutes.  Once your pores are open, apply the damp washcloth over your face and let your skin rest.  This only takes a minute or two as well. 

While my skin has soothed and tissue has been softened by the exfoliation and facial tea steam I apply pure, Vitamin E rich argan oil to gently heal any abuse I have caused my skin.  Argan oil also contains rich polyphenols that protect skin cells and quickly fight free radical damage.  For my delicate eye area I apply Decouverte under eye repair serum, which contains barbary fig seed oil.  Barbary fig seed oil has a higher contentration of Vitamin E than argan oil and a unique composition of high linoleic  acids.  Decouverte also contains lycopene, natural retinol (from plant derived Vitamin A) found in rosehips, caffeine from cold pressed green coffee oil and azulene, a powerful anti inflammatory.  This serum is a super healer and just one night time use was all it took for the puffiness and dark circles to disappear. 

These tips, along with healthy eating of fruit, vegetables and lean protein and replenshing lost electrolytes with coconut water, plain water and antioxidant rich juices help to aid my partying ways.  This is a skintervention in the healthiest form and highly recommended after your girlfriends attempt to convince you that you are 25 all over again.  Thanks, but no thanks ladies!  I'll take confident and self depricating at age 43 over insecure and not as fun 25.   Although, that weekend was surely fun and I have the pictures to prove it.

Environmental Writer and Activist Siel Ju writes about La Bella Figura on Mother Nature Network and Green LA Girl

Beauty from organic argan oil

An all-organic, chemical free beauty line from La Bella Figura impressed MNN's lifestyle blogger with its argan oil-based eco-luxe products.

Wed, Aug 03 2011 at 12:45 PM EST

Photo: Courtesy of La Bella Figura

When eco-aesthetician Diana Ralys soothed my skin with argan oil at my last facial, I was convinced to start using the luxurious skin saver every day. Calming and hydrating with a gentle smooth, silky feel and mild nutty scent, pure argan oil's a great natural moisturizer that can be used as a simple serum -- no additives, preservatives, or fragrances required.

 

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That's why I was ecstatic to try out La Bella Figura's beauty line. This boutique all-organic, chemical-free beauty company uses pure, organic, fair trade argan oil -- sustainably and ethically sourced from Morocco -- as the base in all its eco-luxe products. Its signature product: Moroccan Face Gold -- which is simply 100 percent organic argan oil. This pure beauty product's about as clean and healing as you can get -- especially for those with sensitive skin. The luxurious oil's super gentle, but powerfully moisturizing and soothing.

 

Though super sensitive types might just want to stick with pure argan oil, your skin can get a bigger beauty boost by adding a few other natural ingredients. Diana says though argan oil does a lot, she still recommends a few extras "Regardless of the skin's type or condition antioxidants, like Vitamin C are essential," she told me. "Antioxidants help to decrease skin's stress and support overall skin's health."

 

Want that Vitamin C with your argan oil? Then get La Bella Figura's Tesoro Mediterranean Blend. This serum also has argan oil as its base but also boasts bergamot fruit, lemon, neroli flower, and grapefruit oils -- which give it both an antioxidant kick and a fragrant citrusy scent. "It's got an extra boost of Vitamin C, even more antioxidants and polyphenols to help hydrate the skin, regenerate skin cells,and smooth out fine lines," says Karen King, co-founder of La Bella Figura. "The added essential oils help tone and detoxify the skin. The chamomile and bergamot act as anti-inflammatories, helping to calm breakouts and skin redness."

 

I often let my face serums double as my eye moisturizer too -- since the products are gentle enough for the most sensitive skin spots -- but La Bella Figura also offers a special eye serum, dubbed Découverte Under Eye Repair Serum. This potent potion combines organic argan oil with barbary fig oil for anti inflammatory power, coffee bean oil for moisture retention, and wild-crafted tomato seed oil to heal dry skin. Karen credits it with helping diminish dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. I've noticed that putting on Découverte every night before going to sleep really deep-moisturizes the skin around my eyes -- an area that easily get dry from putting on and taking off eye makeup everyday. Now, the skin there feels healthier and plumper!

 

Want to treat your skin to argan oil? La Bella Figura's eco-luxe beauty line's available at its online store. For a half ounce in a glass pump bottle, Morrocan Face Gold and Tesoro Mediterranean Blend cost $27.50 and $40, respectively. Try both plus the company's lip balm without breaking the bank with La Bella Figura's The Perfect Traveler Kit, which gives you trial sizes of all three products for $20. Découverte isn't included in that travel pack though -- and costs an eye popping $115 for a third ounce.

Review of La Bella Figura by Activist and Actress Shiva Rose on The Local Rose

Allure

La Bella Figura 

June 27, 2011

        

One of most favorite things about this site is that I get to discover natural products that really work. This new line of skin care is truly amazing. The two ladies behind it Victoria and Karen named their company after an Italian expression of finding beauty in everyday life.

La Bella Figura use wonderfully rich oils in their products but the two main ingredients that make their serums stand out, are their use of argan and barbary fig oils. These oils are acquired through fair trade agreements and are truly beneficial to the skin.  I have been using the Moroccan Face Gold and the Tesoro for a few weeks now, and my skin feels noticeably more supple and soft. They also have a great eye repair serum with a good dose of omega 3 to combat dark circles and wrinkles.  

labellafigurabeauty.com

 

Visit Shiva Rose's lovely blog The Local Rose and learn to live a greener existence without the carbon footprint and without sacrificing beauty. We love her posts and her message!

An interview with La Bella Figura co-founder, Victoria Fantauzzi

Victoria Fantauzzi, CEO and co-Founder of La Bella Figura, LLC

LBF: What is your first beauty ritual of the day

Victoria:  The first thing I do is wash my face.  I use an organic coconut and olive oil liquid soap for sensitive skin that I've enhanced with grapefruit essential oil as a natural antibacterial.  Then I moisturize immediately.  You want to moisturize while skin is...dewy.  Weird word, but true. 

LBF:  What do you use as a moisturizer?

Victoria:  You know what I use!  Tesoro is my favorite. It smells so good and it keeps my skin clear.

LBF:  Okay,  what is something you would like people to know about natural beauty products?

Victoria:  Good question!  I want people to know that using natural ingredients doesn't mean it will be ineffective in what it can do for your skin.  I think there is a myth out there that natural means it can't stand up to tough issues, but in actuality going natural is exactly what you should be doing if you have sensitive skin or eczema or acne.  Some of the chemically laden products out there can make those skin types worse! 

LBF:  I agree with you on that.  I've had allergies all my life and had tried just about everything and nothing really worked until I gave up the junk.  What do you think about all the folks that are scared to death about using a face oil?

Victoria:  I think they need to read their ingredient list because most likely they are already using oil on their face, just the really bad kind.  I know it sounds crazy to some people, but using a great quality antioxidant rich oil with no other ingredients is about as pure as you can get.  Mineral based or animal fat oils are pretty gross stuff.  Pure plant oils are best.

LBF:  Well I know we have tons of work to do so this is my last question.  What La Bella Figura product are you eager to share?

Victoria:  Aha, I think it'll have to be Decouverte our new under eye repair serum because it contains an exciting new ingredient, barbary fig seed oil!  Barbary fig seed oil has such a unique chemistry in France they call it "nature's botox."  I'm really proud of our eye serum because it contains such high performing ingredients like green coffee bean oil, tomato seed oil, which is full of lycopene and beta carotene, rosehip seed oil and of course our favorite..argan oil.  We also use rose otto, palmarosa, helichrysum, lavender and the wild blue tansy!  Blue tansy is so fantastic because it's naturally blue and features azulene, but like chamomille it's a calming essential oil for sensitive skin.  Decouverte is our little rockstar for sure and I can't wait to introduce it to everyone. 

LBF:  It's so exciting to introduce barbary fig seed oil to Americans!  Thanks, Victoria.  Let's get back to work! 

We're talking about face oils...yes, oil on your face!

Let's talk about oils and your face!  Does the thought of applying oil onto your skin instantly make you break out?  I am going to change your mind and convert you.  Oh, how I hope!

Many of us, perhaps even most of us have been told to stay away from oily creams and moisturizers in order to keep our skin blemish, smooth and wrinkle free.  We have been taught that oil is our enemy and anything that contains an oil base should be avoided like a birthday party for four year olds!  What many of us fail to realize is your cream or lotion with the "oil free" caption sitting in your bathroom cabinet is actually loaded with oil.  It's probably a petrochemical, a mineral oil, animal oil (fat) or even a good oil that has been chemically extracted and therefore has lost its potent antioxidant benefits.  How else does one create a cream, if not for emulsifying an oil and liquid formula?  We all know that oil and water don't mix.  Don't feel silly, it's not your fault that you never knew the liquid by-product to produce gasoline from crude oil was in your oil-free face lotion.  Cosmetic companies are not in a hurry to let you in on that fact.   Not many are adding glossaries with their long list of ingredients to help you to decipher the language either.  Now you know,  you have been using oil all along and you can just imagine if petroleum can fire up your car every morning it can't be good for the health of your skin.  Now that you know better you can do better. 

As we learn more and more about health and nutrition, we have discovered that oils are in fact, amazing for your skin!  That is if you believe that antioxidants, vitamins and essential fatty acids fight free radicals, help with cell renewal and slows the signs of aging.  I was never the type to run away from oil since my fabulous Grandmother cured my every childhood ailment with olive oil.  From cradle cap to a chest cold, my Abuelita (Spanish for Grandmother) always had a spoonful of pure, cold pressed olive oil for me to ingest.  She even taught me that applying a little olive oil to your eyelashes keeps them thick and healthy and a few drops to your hair produces a gorgeous shine enviable by the rich woman who just spent a fortune at the salon.  In case you didn't know, my Abuelita was a genius! 

When I discovered argan oil I knew that I had hit the jackpot in an oil so full of nutritive benefits it would make my skin look like I had rested for 10 hours a night and just been on the best vacation of my life.  Argan oil is an oil from Morocco and produced when the kernels are cracked and cold pressed for a rich oil that, ironically is light and absorbs into your skin immediately.  It is loaded in essential fatty acids, has twice the amount of Vitamin E than olive oil and is high in antioxidant power.  It, like my Abuelita is another genius.  I began to use argan oil in lieu of my expensive moisturizers at first for its hydrating power.  After all the years of creams and lotions I will admit it was disconcerting, but I quickly adapted and after just one week of use I saw the amazing benefits and was ecstatic to say the least.  My skin looked radiant, felt soft and I could not believe a couple of unwanted blemishes were gone!  I wanted to convert everyone to try this amazing oil, however some folks were just not buying it.  When people started to notice and comment on how lovely my skin looked and asked about what I was using I would tell them my secret, much to gasps of horror.  It seems an oil on a person's face was the craziest thing anyone had ever heard of!  Until some became curious and of course, the results for them were also quick and amazing.   I suddenly had a few converts.  I also knew that I was on to something pretty special for the health of my skin without all of the parabens and petrochemicals that I had unwittingly used for years.  It was like discovering chocolate for the first time, I was hooked and I wanted to share my excitement. 

I am sure I have captured some interest in many of you and that's good.  Some of you may be just a little more suspicious and will be slow to try the power of a face oil or just have to wait to experience it for yourselves. That's okay too.  There was a time when folks were distrustful of the blueberry or made jokes about the heart healthy benefits of olive oil.  They most likely had never encountered my Abuelita.  I'm just hoping that soon enough the thought of applying topical antioxidants, vitamins, omegas and plant derived polyphenols sound like a good thing for beautiful skin.  Unless, you are committed to continue using crude oil on your face. 

Face oils are here to stay because they nourish the skin with pure plant derived benefits.  We at La Bella Figura have done some amazing things with plant derived oils and would love for you to try our products so that you too can become a fan of chemical, toxin and paraben free face oils.  It will change the way you take care of your skin and make you wonder why you haven't used a face oil long before.  We have some incredible things in the works and newly discovered oils for the best looking skin you never thought possible.   Just wait until you hear about organic barbary fig seed oil,  rosehip seed oil, coffeebean oil..I could go on with the amazing ingredients we work with at La Bella Figura.  My Abuelita has been gone for some time now and I find myself emulating her as I chase my niece with a bottle of argan oil to heal her dry skin or add shine to hair and even to apply to her lashes for healthy, long lashes.  She thinks I'm a little bonkers now, she'll be thanking me in a few years I'm certain of that!

Find us at www.labellafigurabeauty.com and learn more about La Bella Figura.

Best in skin health,

Victoria
La Bella Figura, LLC 

Luxury is not a dirty word

What exactly is Eco-luxury? Why does it sound so snobby, perhaps a little contradictory? The word luxury has long been associated with extravagance and exceeding what is necessary or sufficient. The original Latin word luxus was used to describe an object that was more beautiful or unique than any other and often provoked an object of esteem.

Eco-luxury for La Bella Figura is used to distinguish high quality products with a passion and committment to our formulations and how they were sustained from the environment. We carefully choose ingredients based on their effectiveness as well as their sustainability and ecological footprint. Because of our high standards to produce our products we can confidently offer some of the best products on the market now. Our responsibility doesn't end there, we feel it is our duty to give back! La Bella Figura has chosen several non-profit organizations near and dear to us to work with this year.

When we define ourselves as an Eco-luxury company we are differentiating ourselves with our innovative methods and forward thinking approach to the world and environment around us. We are partners with local communities and developing awareness of social sustainability is part of what we stand for and what you can count on when purchasing any of our products. Sadly, there are many wonderful ingredients that we researched for their pure plant effectiveness in health, but chose not to incorporate into our formulations because they were not sustainable to their environment.

We hope buying our eco-luxury products brings enjoyment of a handcrafted, high quality item.

To learn more about La Bella Figura visit us at labellafigurabeauty.com.

INTRODUCING, the latest in the anti-aging revolution: Barbary Fig Seed Oil

Studies continue to emerge that suggest certain plants high in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and polyphenols may be protective against oxidative damage.  The Barbary Fig (Opuntia Ficus Indica) a member of the Cactacae family,  has been used widely in Mexico, Latin America, South America and the Mediterranean region for its nutritional properties and in traditional medicine for its hypoglycemic actions.  Recent studies show that barbary fig seed oil is extremely effective in lowering the oxidation damage to cellular structure in stressed tissue.  The components for the cell repair is attributed to the rich antioxidant capacity of the seed oil.  Thanks to its exceptional high content of Omega 3, Vitamin E and plant derived betalains, barbary fig seed oil acts as a super antioxidant amongst antioxidants and a potent fighter of free radicals.  In fact, barbary fig seed oil is richer in essential fatty acids and tocopherols than argan oil.  This rare and precious oil also acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps to calm irritated skin providing immediate relief to soothe and normalize. 

The improvement of skin tone, cellular repair and nutritive benefits to the skin make barbary fig seed oil one of the most naturally effective and latest treatments in the anti-aging revolution.  

          >  Protects the skin against environmental damage
          >  Tightens and tones skin to prevent premature aging
          >  Moisturizes and revitalizes skin for a beautiful and healthy complexion
          >  Reduces under eye puffiness and minimizes dark circles
          >  Repairs cellular tissue and promotes new healthy cell formation

A true gift from nature and a rock star in its pure, whole plant effectiveness, barbary fig seed oil is ready to take its turn to shine in the spotlight!